Shelby Allen - USEA Staff

Each fall the most talented young horses in the world head to Le Lion d’Angers to compete in the FEI World Eventing Breeding Championships where there is a CCI1* championship for 6-year-olds and a CCI2* competition for 7-year-olds. The competition is fierce, and is typically an accurate predictor of which horses have what it takes to make it to the top levels of the sport, such as back-to-back Rolex Kentucky winner fischerRocana FST, who won the 6-year-old championship in 2011.

Marilyn Little delivered a one-two punch this weekend at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International ending as the USEF CCI3* National Champion with RF Scandalous, and Reserve Champion with RF Demeter at the Elkton, Md. venue.

Fair Hill International in Elkton, Md. is an emotional event for Jennie Brannigan. As an up and coming young rider, Brannigan’s superstar partner, Cooper, suffered a freak accident in the CCI3* here in 2009, which ultimately forced Brannigan to euthanize Cooper due to complications from the injury. Years later, and after many more successes, she was able to use funds from Cooper’s insurance policy to purchase her newest shining star, Stella Artois, with help from Beth Battel, who she piloted today to the CCI2* victory.

Sixty-Five horses have been accepted by the ground jury and will go onto the final phase of the competition, show jumping, at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International in Elkton, Md. Thirty-four CCI2* horses were presented, and all were accepted. McKena Knott withdrew Flanigan this morning before the final horse inspection. Rebecca Hoos' Little Cruz was held, but accepted upon second presentation.

It was a picture perfect day of cross-country at this year’s Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International where in both the CCI3* and CCI2* divisions, second-placed pairs moved into the lead. Going into the final phase of the competition tomorrow, Marilyn Little and RF Demeter top the three-star and Jennie Brannigan and Stella Artois lead the two-star.

The 2016 USEA East Coast Young Event Horse Championships wrapped up today at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Horse Trials as the young horses moved onto the jumping and galloping portion of the competition under the watchful eyes of our esteemed judges Ian Stark, Bea di Grazia and Cathy Tucker-Slaterbeck.

The 2016 USEA East Coast Young Event Horse Championships wrapped up today in Saw Mill Field at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Horse Trials as the young horses moved onto the jumping and galloping portion of the competition.

One after another, competitors tried to best the overnight leaders, but no one could touch CCI2* leader Emily Beshear and Silver Night Lady or CCI3* leader Marilyn Little and RF Scandalous at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Horse Trials. They remain in the top position of their respective divisions going into tomorrow’s cross-country.

The 2016 USEA East Coast Young Event Horse Championships kicked off today in Elkton, Md., alongside the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Horse Trials as an unprecedented number of 5-year-olds and 4-year-olds went head-to-head for the top spot of their respective ages. Each year the USEA Young Event Horse (YEH) Program grows, the competition gets more intense and this year is no exception with the top scores separated by mere points.

The arenas were packed full today at the Dutta Corp. Fair Hill International Horse Trials in Elkton, Md. Running alongside the USEA East Coast Young Event Horse Championship was the CCI3* division, where Marilyn Little and Jacqueline Mars, Robin Parsky, Phoebe Manders and Michael Manders’ RF Scandalous (Carry Gold x Richardia) took the leading position on the flat.